When we think about Iceland, we often imagine a mystical place. Somehow, Iceland seems to be the island of elves, trolls and fairies – and the Northern Lights of course! We’ll show you why it’s absolutely worth it to visit this beautiful spot.

Although Iceland has an area of 103,000 km², only about 357,000 people are living on the island, making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Most of them are located in Iceland’s capital Reykjavík, which brings us to our first travel tip! The biggest city on the island is famous for its nightlife and the Blue Lagoon. The „Bláa Lónið“, how the locals call it, is a place where the powers of geothermal seawater create transformational spa journeys. You can find it near Grindavík on the peninsula of Reykjanes. Those hot springs are literally everywhere on Iceland. Well, this is no surprise as Iceland is the biggest volcanic island on earth. These natural hot springs are not only phenomenally unique and beautiful but also very hot! This is why you should better use one of the thermal baths for some wellness. You will definitely get no wellness treatment at a geyser, as this is a hot spring characterized by intermittent discharge of water which ejects turbulently. Eruptions at a geyser can hurl boiling water up to 70 metres – it’s a natural spectacle! Nature is generally a big thing in Iceland: everywhere you look, you see stunning landscapes. Be prepared that your phone will be full of pictures when you come home. While driving around the island, one of the numerous waterfalls will surely catch your eye, for example the „Gullfoss“ in the south.

While strolling through the main shopping street of Reykjavík, you will notice all the fashionable people throughout the city. The Icelanders love fashion – no wonder NEW YORKER has two stores in Reykjavík, located in the Kringlan Center and the Smáralind Center.

Here’s a fun fact: If you want to lay a road or build anything in Iceland, there’s one group that needs to approve it first – the elves. No joke! The building department in Reykjavík has consulted some kind of “elves representatives” in the past, to prove if a certain area is an “elf-free zone”. The tourist association hands out a map which shows where you can find those mystical creatures. Another reason why you should definitely put Iceland on your travel wish list!